West Ham Utd v Manchester Utd betting preview

Joe Cole could make an emotional debut for the second time in the FA Cup for West Ham (4/1) against Manchester United (3/4, Draw 12/5) on Saturday evening, as the midfielder returns to his boyhood club. Cole, signed on an 18 month contract from Liverpool this week, and could be thrown straight into the side to face the Red Devils.

The ex Chelsea man will be eager to make his mark on the side that so famously dumped the red side of Manchester out of the FA Cup in 2001 and he and the rest of the Boleyn Ground faithful will hope that history will repeat itself. The main focus of the season will still be to stay in the Barclays Premier League but The Hammers will fancy their chances against a vastly changed Manchester United side.

Since their return to the Premier League in the summer West Ham have taken some notable scalps including the 3-1 beating of London rivals Chelsea at the start of last month and currently occupy 11th spot in the league, better than a lot of their pre-season critics predicted.

This will be the 8th time these two side have met in this competition but with Manchester Utd still involved in the UEFA Champions League and maintaining their place at the top of the Premier League, their starting line up could be something of a mystery. West Ham on the other hand will be treating the FA Cup as their best chance of silverware this season and apart from making room for Cole, should play a relatively unchanged side from the one that beat Norwich on new years day.

Should Cole start we go (12/1 for him to score the first/last goal, 5/1 anytime goal scorer). If you fancy him to mark his debut in style we will offer 20/1 to score two or more and 100/1 for his to sign on with a Hatrick!

The Hammers love the goal scoring exploits of Kevin Nolan this season with 5 league goals. He is (9/1 first/last, 10/3 anytime) to get on the score sheet again. We are offering an enhanced price on the Wincast involving the clubs top scorer. If Nolan scores in a West Ham win we will offer 12/1. Enhanced from 8/1.

Carlton Cole is favourite to score The Hammers first goal. The England man is having a lean spell this season with just 2 goals in the league from 18 appearances and a strike against a weakened Man Utd side could provide the confidence boost he needs.

Manchester United are likely to make sweeping changes to the side that stuck 4 past Wigan on New Year's Day. Wayne Rooney is still out and will be for the next couple of weeks and it's debatable whether or not Van Persie will start.

They are still fighting on 3 fronts this season, yet have not won this competition since 2004 whichwill upset manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The Red Devils have won the FA Cup on 11 occasions, the most successful club in its history and start the 3rd favourites for the pot at 6/1behind Man City 5/1 and Chelsea 13/2.

Should Robin Van Persie play we have him at (11/4 to score the first/last, 8/13 anytime). The summer signing from Arsenal is the Premier Leagues top scorer this campaign with 16 goals so far.

Javier Hernandez is enjoying a extended run in the Man Utd side during Rooney's enforced absence and bagged a brace in his last match against Wigan. Hernandez has scored 12 from 12 this season and for him to keep his goal a game ratio we offer 7/2 first/last 10/11 anytime.

Danny Welbeck is a likely starter and we go (11/2 first/last, 6/4 anytime). We have a Scorecast offer on Welbeck to score at anytime during a Man Utd win. Enhanced from 9/2 to 6/1.

They have scored 17 goals in their last 7 matches in all competitions and should you expect another goalfest we go 9/1 for 6 or more goals.

Should Man Utd fall behind again and win the game in 90 mins, as they have done so often this season, we go (13/2).

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